Fifty-one runners finish Estes Trail Ascent

Local runners place well

By Walt Hester

Trail-Gazette

Posted:
06/26/2013 06:12:00 AM MDT

Kristi Ehle carefully descends the last mile of the Ascent Trail Run on Saturday. Ehle was the women's overall winner of the 5.9-mile race on Pole Hill, finishing in 54:38. (Walt Hester / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)

Runners finish up the Ascent Trail Run on Saturday. The second annual run featured stunning views and a challenging course on Pole Hill. (Walt Hester / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)

Tim Gruber of Huntersville, N.C., and Estes Park's Kristi Ehle won Saturday's second Estes Ascent Trail Run. The race, run in collaboration with the first Estes Park Ascent Trail Running Conference, consisted of 5.9 miles of scenic forest service roads on Pole Hill. Competitors faced 1,900 feet of elevation gain on a course that started at 8,500 feet above sea level. The competitors were treated to stunning views of the snow-capped mountains to take their minds off of their legs.

The 18-year-old Gruber took the men's overall win in a time of 43:06, while, while Justin Keefe of Newton, Mass. came across one second later for second place. Brent Rochambeau was the best men's finisher from Estes Park. Rochambeau was fourth overall and first in his 20-29 age group.

Runners stretch out as they descend the last mile of the Ascent Trail Run on Pole Hill on Saturday. The run is in its second year and has grown over last year. (Walt Hester / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)

Estes Park was also very well represented among the women. Local Ehle was the fastest overall woman at 54:38. Amy Plummer, also of Estes Park, placed second overall among women at 57:11.

The second edition of the race had 51 runners from 11 states. The men's winner and runner-up represented the furthest-most states. While runner Marcos Soriano came from the furthest away, Yecla, Spain.

The final finisher, Courtney Mathews of Lone Tree, Colo., was also recognized for completing the race. The top two men were also the youngest runners while Ross Westley of Arvada, represented the opposite end of the age range at 76.

Organizers were pleased with the response of the second trasil race and look forward to not only staging the Estes Trail Ascent next ytear, but also creating a trail race series.